Belfast police deploy water cannon as second night of unrest subsides
Northern Ireland Police Chief Constable Jon Boutcher describes rioters as committing a 'huge act of self-harm' as 27 people are left homeless in targeted attacks.
Police in Belfast deployed water cannons on Wednesday night to disperse far-right protesters during a second night of unrest triggered by a knife attack involving a Sudanese refugee. The clashes, which saw demonstrators throw missiles such as rocks and bottles at officers, were described by authorities as markedly less severe than the previous evening. On Tuesday, hundreds of masked men burned homes and vehicles, forcing families to flee their properties.
The unrest follows the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie by suspect Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese national who appeared in court on charges including attempted murder. Alodid was remanded in custody with the case adjourned to July 8. Ogilvie, who lost an eye and suffered serious wounds to his neck and face, remains in stable condition. His family issued a statement condemning the violence and calling for calm, emphasising that migrants make a valuable contribution to the country and should not be used to fuel hostility.
Northern Ireland Police Chief Constable Jon Boutcher announced the deployment of an additional 200 officers to maintain public order. He characterised the rioters' actions as a "huge act of self-harm by mindless idiots," noting that the violence targeted society as a whole rather than just ethnic minority groups. Boutcher confirmed that officers rescued a family, including a two-month-old baby, from a burning house during the Tuesday night disturbances.
UK Minister Ruth Anderson reported that at least 27 people had been made homeless due to targeted attacks on foreign nationals. Resident Jamie Corry described watching his house burn down while rioters ignored his pleas to spare his property. The violence occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions across the UK, including a separate incident in Southampton where a student was stabbed while handcuffed by police.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the riots as "shocking and completely unacceptable," stating that driving people from their homes was not a valid response to the knife attack. Anna Turley, chairwoman of the UK Labour Party, identified online platforms and figures such as Elon Musk as "bad faith actors" driving the unrest. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk also criticised social media incitement, calling the dehumanisation of groups "despicable" and urging providers to prevent hate speech.
